Durbin Questions District Court Nominees At Latest Judiciary Committee Nominations Hearing

Hearing

"Most members of Congress who have tribal representation in their states understand this whole issue of tribal sovereignty and the fact that you have served as Attorney General for the Cherokee Nation, could you summarize in a few sentences the difference or the challenge that you faced with that responsibility?"

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"You've had a range of experience as a litigator and as a jurist, and spent your legal career in the Northern Mariana Islands, including a previous appointment to the bench to which you have been re-nominated. I want to make a note of this fact: that after the island was hit with devastating typhoons in 2015 and 2018, you kept the courthouse open to ensure the crucial work of the judiciary would not be interrupted. Your judicial chambers were awarded the 2019 Director's Award for Extraordinary Actions from the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. How have your experiences equipped you to continue serving that unique need in the Northern Mariana Islands?"

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"While reviewing your record, I noticed you've been representing U.S. purchasers in a putative class action against the manufacturer of a breast cancer drug called Herceptin. The plaintiffs in the suit contend the company falsely labeled vials of the drug so that the purchasers regularly received less of the active ingredient than they thought they were receiving. Can you tell us about your work in that case and what specific claims the class is raising?"

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"...labeling and handling and bottling [of pharmaceuticals] is a critical element in making sure that American consumers are treated fairly."

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